Collapsible crate



Dc- 5, 1933. H. J. BAILEY COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed Deo. 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheetl l -Sheet 2 2 Sheets Filed Dec. 6, 1952 Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED s'rufrrzsv PATENT `OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to shipping crates and particularly to an improved collapsible crate for shipping fowl or other live stock, the object being to present a construction which when in operation affords ample protection and security for the stock being shipped, but when collapsed presents a minimum space with the parts so arranged that there will be no breakage, or at least a minimum breakage, when being shipped from place to place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible crate for the shipment of chickens and the like, of a construction which may be folded when not in use, and which can be shipped in folded condition, the structure being so formed that when folded the various heavy bars forming part of the crate will be in alignment to take up the strain of other crates or other objects placed upon a given folded crate.

` An additional object, more specifically, is to provide a folded crate wherein the end members are formed to interlock with the top members to hold the crate unfolded when in use, the structure being so arranged that the bottom projects sufiiciently in all directions to protect the folding parts of the crate when in a folded position.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding crate disclosing an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view throughFigure 1 on the line 2 2; f

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, except that the parts are shown in folded position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through Figure 2 on the line 4 4;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, except that the parts are shown in folded position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by i numerals, l indicates a base for the crate which is preferably made from wood or other heavy material. The base 1 is made of a size to present a proper bottom for the crate when unfolded and, in addition, is provided with an extension 2 which acts as a protection for the end of the folding top section 3, as shown in Figure 3.

The crate in addition to the base at the bottom is provided with side sections 4 and 5, end sections 6 and 7 and top sections 3 and S. Each of these sections is formed as a rectangular frame provided with suitable spindles 9 so as to make an openwork crate whereby chickens or the like may be readily confined and yet supplied with ample air. In forming the various frames of the various sections, these are proportioned so that they will be in alignment, when folded, as shown in Figure 3. `It will be noted from this figure that the frames are aligned centrally of the crate and at each side. Frame 3 projects outwardly a short distance so that in order to provide a protection for the spindles of this frame a block 10 is provided which 60 rests on one of the bars of the other frames, so that in case another crate is stacked on the one shown in Figure 3, the weight will be transmitted from one frame to the other and not to the various spindles which could be easily broken. As illustrated in Figure i there are two blocks 10 and in addition the usual door 11 having side bars 12.

From Figure 4 it willrbe seen that end sections 6 and Tare connected to the bottom of base 1 by hinges 13 and 14. It is'to be understood that 70 these hinges may be of any desiredk klndand are arranged as shown in Figure 4 so that when the crate is folded sectionsk and 7will be folded flatwise against the bottom 1, as illustrated in Figure 5. vChannel irons 15 and 16 are secured to the 75 upper edges of end sections 6 and 7. These channel irons are adapted to receive the end portions of the respective frames 3 and 8 as illustrated in Figure 1, whereby all the fra-mes are locked in their setup or unfolded position.

When the parts are arranged as shown in Figure l the crate is ready to receive chickens or other live stock as desired. The side sections 5 and 6 are also hingedly connected to the base 1 but the arrangement isV somewhat different. g5 As illustrated in Figure 1, there are two hinged structures, namely, structures 17 and 18 which connect the side sections to the bottom of base 1. As these two hinge structures are identical, a. i description of one will apply to both. As shown in Figure 2, hinge structure 17 is provided with a strip 19 extending almost entirely across the base 1 and merges into knuckles 20 and 21 accommodated in the respective pintles 22 and 23, and which also extend to the knuckles formed on the inwardly extending ends of hinge sections 24 and 25` It will be noted that pintle 20 and coacting knuckles are arranged a short distance within section 4, while pintle 24 and associated knuckles are arranged at a spaced distance from section 5. This will permit the parts to be folded as shown in Figure 3. As illustrated particularly in Figure 3, hinge section 24 is provided with a short shank 26, and hinge section 25 is provided with a comparatively long shank 27. Shank 26 105 is about of a length and thickness of one of the end sections, while shank 27 is about of a length equal to twice the thickness of one of the sections, whereby the end sections are `first folded on their respective hinges 13 and 14l and then 110' side section 4 is folded over as shown in Figure 3, and lastly side section 5 with its top section 3. When the parts are folded in this manner the edge 28 acts as a protection, and the extension 2 also acts as a protection for the folded portions of the crate, thus permitting a number of crates to be stacked when being sent to a given destination.

In use the crates are iilled, for instance, with chickens and shipped in a truck or otherwise to a point of disposal, for instance, a market in a large city. At the present time chickens and other live stock are shipped by trucks and when delivered the emptied crates as well as the empty crates of previous deliveries must be taken home. Where crates are formed rigid throughout and not foldable, they will occupy as much space in the truck as when they were lled. By providing the knock-down crate as just described the lled crates may be delivered to the point of disposal, and then a number of empty crates may be placed in the truck in such a manner that a large space is left for the hauling of additional freight back to the farm or to any desired point, thus making a profitable haul in both directions. The arrangement of the top sections with their frames is such that when the crates are folded, as shown in Figure 3, they may be readily stacked one on the other, and besides other articles may be placed thereon without any appreciable danger of breaking any of the parts.

The crates may be quickly unfolded at any time Without the use of tools, and when unfolded may be adjusted ,to the position shown in Figure 1, whereby they are again ready for the reception of chickens or other articles.

By the use of the strong bottom board 1 preferably solid throughout, and also by the use of the central strip 19, the base is unusually strong and rigid, and therefore the crate will stand unusual abuse Without danger of being materially injured.

I claim:-

l. A collapsible crate comprising a bottom formed slightly larger than the main part of the crate, a pair of side members hingedly connected with said bottom on the upper face of the bottom, said end members being spaced from the end edges of the bottom, a pair of side members hinged to the upper face of said bottom and spaced from the side edges of said bottom, a top hingedly connected to each of said .side members and adapted to be moved over to a position parallel with said bottom, and a member U-shaped in cross section carried by each of the end members straddling part of the top members for connecting the top members With the end members for causing the various end, side and top members to remain in a setup position.

2. A collapsible crate comprising a bottom, top and side members hingedly connected to the bottom on one face of the bottom, a channel iron mounted on the opposite edge of the end members to that engaging the bottom and facing in a direction away from the bottom when the crate is in functioning position, a pair of side members hingedly connected to the same face of said bottom as the end members, a pair of top members, said top members being hingedly connected to the respective side members and provided with frames proportioned in such a manner that part of each frame will fit into the respective channel irons .so as to tie the parts together.

3. A collapsible crate comprising a bottom, a pair of end members hingedly connected to said bottom on one face of the bottom, a pair of side members hingedly connected with said bottom on the same face as said end members, a pair of hinged structures for hingedly connecting said side members to said bottom, said hinged struc# 'ures each comprising a hinged formation formed with a pair of leaves, interlocking knuckles, and a pintle connecting said knuckles, one of said leaves being positioned iiatwise against said bottoni, the other leaf having a right angled bend spaced from said knuckles, one of said hinged formations having a bent-up part spacedA from said knuckles further than the other, one of said side members being secured to the bent-up part of one of said hinged formations, said last mentioned hinged formation spacing the last mentioned side member so that it will be a distance equal to the thickness of one of said end members when the side member is parallel'ivith the bottom, the other hinged formation spacing the other side member a distance from the bottom equal to one of said end members and the other side member, when said other side member is parallel with the bottom, whereby said other side member may overlie the first mentioned side member when folded.

HERBERT J. BAILEY. 

